One of Kentucky's best known farm organizations is launching an effort to keep adequate water in the hands of farmers. The Kentucky Farm Bureau's Water Management Working Group held its inaugural meeting last week.
Farm Bureau Commodity Division Director Joe Cain says the task force will examine long-term water management for the state's farmers. Cain says the group will also explore the feasibility of adding impoundments on farmlands. "We develop additional water resources for irrigation purposes for livestock uses,” said Cain. “That's gonna take some of the pressure off those municipal situations when we have these drought disasters in the future."
Cain says more water storage on Kentucky farms would also benefit crops. Currently, he says only about two percent of water in the state is used for irrigation. Cain says wet winter months can be an asset. "How can we manage those resources that we're given in the winter to help us meet the growing needs of our crops in the summer?" asked Cain.
Over time the water management task force could make recommendations to federal, state, and private entities. Cain says plans could call for cost-sharing through the National Resource Conservation Service. ?
